Cartridge especially for film

ABSTRACT

The outer wall of a cartridge containing photographic film or the like is combined with, or assembled with the aid of, at least one indicator pin. The head of the pin is so shaped, or otherwise so arranged, as to cause selective responses, dependent on the contents of the cartridge. The pin structure is fastened by resilient action.

[ 51 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] CARTRIDGE ESPECIALLY QOR FILM [75] Inventor:Bernhard Walther, Dessau, Ger- I many [73] Assignee; VEBFilmfabriken,Wolfen,Germany 2,238,238 4/ 1941 Westrope ..220/60 RFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 672,947 11/1965 Belgium ..352/78 CPrimary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews [22] Filed: July 1971 AssistantExaminer-Monroe H. Hayes [21] App]. NQ; 161,808 Attorney-Nolte and Nolte57 ABS'I RA T [52] US. Cl. ..95/31 R, 352/72, 352/78 C 1 C [51] Int. Cl,..G03b 19/04 The o ter wall of a cartridge containing photographic [58]Field of Search ..95/31 R; 352/72, 78 R, 78 C; film or the like iscombined with, or assembled with 220/55, 55 R, 60 R the aid of, at leastone indicator pin. The head of the pin is so shaped, or otherwise soarranged, as to cause [56] References Cited selective responses,dependent on the contents of the UNITED STATES PATENTS tcizlrntlridge.The pin structure is fastened by resilient ac 3,490,348 1/1970 Ariyasu..325/78 C 3,139,789 7/1964 Schrader ..352/72 5 Chums 6 Drawmg Flgures2,466,524 4/1949 Williams ..352/78 R 2,195,999 4/1940 Reibold ..220/60 RI I 7 k\\ V 2 (l/ 9 3G I l PATENTEBHARZYIQYS 3,722,387

FIG! FIG. 2

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INVENTOR BERNHARD WALTHER BY 77% f 77% ATTORNEYS 1 CARTRIDGE ESPECIALLYFOR FILM BACKGROUND AND NATURE OF THE INVENTION Various arrangements areknown wherein a camera automatically responds to certain characteristics(such as speed) of the film to be used in it. Particularly such responsehas been obtained by rigid markers, integrally formed on a filmcartridge, or secured thereto, at certain points of the cartridge whichcontact predetermined points of the camera structure on insertion of thecartridge. Rivets have been used for such purposes, on metal cartridges,but have been found hard or impossible to use, particularly oncartridges made of synthetic plastics, and their attachment by rivetingtools and the like adds to the cost of the cartridge.

In some cases, in order to provide a plurality of interrelated data,stepped cams have been attached to the cartridge. However, they havebeen hard to test or utilize in and by the camera structure.

Devices of these types are known for example from Austrian Pat. No.258,706.

It is the object of the invention to provide improved marking means forsuch purposes.

This has been achieved by using, instead of the earlier cartridgefeatures and rivets, a pin and particularly a self-locking pin having ahead on the surface of the cartridge and a shank reaching into thecartridge structure and anchored therein, the head of the pin being ofsuch form, size and character that the camera can respond thereto.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a firstembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a similar view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a similar view of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 5a is a similar view of a fifth embodiment, taken alonglines A-A inFIG. 5b, and

FIG. 5b is a detail view, showing a detail from FIG. 5a.

Referring initially to FIG. 1: In thiscase, the head 1 of pin 2 extendsslightly above the outside surface of film cartridge 3. The pin has ashank in the form of an expanding spring member, extending through andslightly beyond bore hole 4 in cartridge 3 and having barbs 5 at the endof the expanding pin elements, for resilient engagement with theunderside of the bore hole structure. Depending on the number, size,shape and other characteristics of pinhead 1 on the outside of cartridge3, the cartridge enables both users and cameras to respond to differentcartridge and pin combinations, thereby distinguishing between thedifferent characteristics of the film (not shown) which is disposed inthe cartridge. When cartridge 3 is inserted in a camera, adapted to it,pinhead l depresses or tilts or otherwise moves a suitable feeler,thereby adjusting the camera to the film stored in the cartridge. Thefeeler (not shown) can be spring-loaded, as is known to the art.

As indicated in FIG. 2, it is also possible to make a bore holestructure for engagement with a pin and head (or inversely, a pinstructure for engagement with a bore hole structure) a fixed part of thecartridge. As also shown, it is possible by provisions of this king toutilize the pin and bore hole combination additionally as a means forholding the cartridge assembled. Thus cartridge 3a according to FIG. 2may have upper and lower parts 7 and 8 and this latter part, as shown,has a bore hole element 4a incorporated therein as a fixed part thereof.The same pin 1, 2 may be used that has been shown in FIG. 1. In thepresent case, the barbs 5 of this pin engage a suitable shoulder of theinside of bore hole element 4a. Of course, suitable light sealconstruction is provided in area 9 where the cartridge portions 7 and 8are interconnected.

In each of these embodiments it is often preferable to form pinhead 1 incylindrical form, thereby making the general handling thereof verysimilar to the handling of conventional rivets, although the assemblyoperation is considerably simpler in accordance with the invention, thanany application of rivets. By suitably selecting the diameter, heightand location of pinhead 1, on the surface of cartridge 3 or 3a bothusers and cameras are enabled to suitably respond to the film insertedin the particular cartridge. For example, different speeds of film canbe represented by different pinhead diameters, while different lengthsof film can be represented by different heights of pinheads. Cameras, ofconstruction which need not be shown, determine the diameter of thepinhead by known automatic caliper type feelers. For this purpose, thecylindrical form of the head is useful as it allows better response thanthe usual rivets do and as it does not require special adjustment withregard to the. rotary position of the pinhead in the camera.

The pinheads can be distinguished also by color, not only for visualdistinction but for automatic selection, particularly when thecartridges are sorted automatically to supply films of the same type tosuitable developing systems. For example, when a cartridge containsblack and white negative film, it can be marked distinctively by a blackpinhead 1; if it contains black and white reversal film the pinhead canbe white; for color reversal film it can be red and yellow and for colornegative film it can be green and blue.

When a cartridge can be inserted in two different positions it isdesirable to use a pair of pinheads, as suggested by FIGS. 3 and 4. Inthis case, the standard pin 1, 2 can be used on the surface of upperportion 7 of cartridge 3b, while hollow pin lb is inserted, coaxiallywith l in the surface of lower cartridge portion 7b. Standard pin 1 andhollow pin 1b are interconnected in the same way as has been shown inFIG. 2.

As particularly shown in FIG. 4, instead of a relatively large hollowpin there can be used a resiliently contracting pin 6 having a claw-likeend which engages a solid conical pin portion of the other pin 10.

As finally shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the pinhead and pin can also bedisposed angularly with respect to one another, preferably at an angleof In this case, a suitable connecting member 8 connects pin shank 2dwith the laterally protecting pinhead or pinheads 1d. The engagementwith the cartridge bore 4d can be the same as in FIG. 2 or 3.

It will be seen that the invention has the advantage that various datacan be supplied to the response mechanism by simple and inexpensivemeans, which in fact promote positive response. A further advantage isthat extra labor for insertion of film markers is totally avoided whenthe pins at the same time are used as closure elements of the filmcartridge. The new marker, or combined marker and fastener, can be usedon cartridges for photographic film, sound tape, video tape, and otherfilms or tapes, although its form, as shown, is particularly useful forfilm magazines.

What is claimed is:

1. In a film or tape cartridge comprising at least two units and meansfastening the units together, the improvement comprising a fastenerfunctioning both to fasten together the two units and to designate thetype of film or tape in the cartridge, the fastener including a pinhaving a head and a shank, an abutment formed on the shank, means forengaging the abutment and thereby locking with the pin, the shank of thepin extending through at least one of the units and the head of the pinbeing located outside the cartridge, said engaging means being connectedto at least one other of the units, the head of the pin being coded byshape, color or marking to designate the type of film or tape in thecartridge.

2. In a film or tape cartridge improvement according to claim 1, inwhich the abutment is formed on a free end of the shank.

3. In a film or tape cartridge improvement according to claim 1, inwhich the shank is longitudinally divided in the form of at least twoarms, and the abutment comprises a barb at the free end of at least oneof the arms.

4. In a film or tape cartridge improvement according to claim 1, inwhich the means for engaging the abutment comprises a second pin, thesecond pin having a shank longitudinally divided in the form of at leasttwo arms, said engaging means comprising an abutment formed at the freeend of at least one of the arms of the second pin for engaging theabutment on the first pin.

5. In a film or tape cartridge improvement according to claim 1, inwhich the means for engaging the abutment comprises the periphery of anaperture defined through one of the units and through which the shank ofthe pin extends.

1. In a film or tape cartridge comprising at least two units and meansfastening the units together, the imprOvement comprising a fastenerfunctioning both to fasten together the two units and to designate thetype of film or tape in the cartridge, the fastener including a pinhaving a head and a shank, an abutment formed on the shank, means forengaging the abutment and thereby locking with the pin, the shank of thepin extending through at least one of the units and the head of the pinbeing located outside the cartridge, said engaging means being connectedto at least one other of the units, the head of the pin being coded byshape, color or marking to designate the type of film or tape in thecartridge.
 2. In a film or tape cartridge improvement according to claim1, in which the abutment is formed on a free end of the shank.
 3. In afilm or tape cartridge improvement according to claim 1, in which theshank is longitudinally divided in the form of at least two arms, andthe abutment comprises a barb at the free end of at least one of thearms.
 4. In a film or tape cartridge improvement according to claim 1,in which the means for engaging the abutment comprises a second pin, thesecond pin having a shank longitudinally divided in the form of at leasttwo arms, said engaging means comprising an abutment formed at the freeend of at least one of the arms of the second pin for engaging theabutment on the first pin.
 5. In a film or tape cartridge improvementaccording to claim 1, in which the means for engaging the abutmentcomprises the periphery of an aperture defined through one of the unitsand through which the shank of the pin extends.